By FELIX MALUNGA –

THE Zambia Closed Squash Championships return to Ndola next month after a two-year lull with K26,000 staked for prize money.
More than 70 top players, who include past winners, Mwinga Lengwe, Manda Chilambwe and Sharon Chimfwembe, all expected to converge at Ndola Squash Club to compete for honours on the weekend of July 5-7.
Club chairperson, Model Kanyimbo said Ndola was yet to find a title sponsor for the tournament to be held during the annual Zambia International Trade Fair weekend.
Kanyimbo said in an interview yesterday that any corporate institution which would pour more money than other co-sponsors would get the naming rights mantle.
Club captain, Leah Muwaika said the championship would be competed for in three categories – men, women and veterans with 22 deserving players expected to reap from the K26,000 dangled for prize money.
Muwaika said registration for participants would start on June 23 and that participate fee had been pegged at K80,000 while clubs that would enter more than 10 players would pay K70,000 per competitor.
“Ndola Squash Club is pleased to announce the hosting of the Zambia Squash Association’s 2014 Zambia Closed Squash tournament. The Tournament whose official sponsor is yet to be named, is scheduled to be played over the Trade Fair weekend of the July 5 – 7t, 2014.
There will be three participating categories; men, ladies and veterans. A total of 22 winning players will get a share of the K26, 000.00 prize money at stake,” she said in a statement yesterday.